Spirit of ICWA

During our session we will examine the origins and the strong need for the Indian Child Welfare Act formally known as ICWA and the true spirit and nature. Some of the atrocities committed upon Indigenous children and families that spanned over time and did NOT end 100 years ago. We will then work towards understanding how this translates to the current issues we see in Indian Country. The “Intra-Generational” trauma we witness in our communities is ongoing and rampant, where understanding the root issues are key to addressing issues in a culturally respective manner.

Trainer: Dereck Stonefish, Training Coordinator, Native American Institute and CEO, Indigenous Forward Consulting

Dereck Stonefish, is Oneida from the Iroquois Confederacy and has been involved in a plethora of education, research, & an “Indian Way of life”. Through internships, research appointments, K-12 educator & the Public Health arena, he has crafted his expertise with a new way of thinking when it comes to addressing issues in modern Indian Country. Throughout his life, like many Natives, he’s witnessed abuse in multiple variations and degrees, but realized through his own healing journey & traditional knowledge, that unresolved trauma is a driving force contaminating the healing processes of Indigenous communities (Urban & Reservation) exponentially. The improvement & implementation of new culturally based curricula and training has been a need for many years. Dereck has identified this need and become an innovator working for the betterment of ALL people creating curriculum and trainings that are innovative and effective. Dereck is currently the Training Coordinator at the Native American Institute and CEO of Indigenous Forward Consulting where he provides training and technical assistance to strengthen partners capacity to work with and within Indigenous Communities.